B.C. birdwatchers are sharing their experiences on screen in a new video series exploring stories from the birding community and conservation efforts supporting birds and their habitat.
The BC Bird Trail, a leading source of information for novice birders to discover attractions and activities related to birdwatching in British Columbia, has collaborated with renowned birder Dick Cannings to highlight original stories of local birding, community groups and conservation efforts across the province.
The ‘Stories from The BC Bird Trail’ series releases its first 14-minute documentary short on YouTube and BCBirdTrail.ca on Feb. 8 to inspire nature lovers to get outside, connect with their community and learn more about birding in BC.
Cannings, a birder, biologist and published author living in the Okanagan Valley, works for Bird Studies Canada coordinating Canadian Christmas Bird Counts, the Great Backyard Bird Count, the eBird program, the BC Breeding Bird Atlas and the British Columbia Owl Survey.
“For more than two years, The BC Bird Trail has been connecting nature lovers from BC (and beyond) with unique original perspectives on the world of birding,” says Ceri Chong, Director, Destination and Industry Development at Tourism Richmond. “More than just an accessible, educational, family-friendly outdoor activity, birding experiences in our great outdoors has a proven positive effect on both physical and mental health. We hope that that our Stories from The BC Bird Trail will further inspire people to take a deep breath, get moving, and explore all that our spectacular province has to offer.”
The inaugural documentary short includes:
- From Richmond, Bird Banding & Migration Monitoring – Visit the Iona Island Bird Observatory in Richmond, where biologist Quinn McCallum explains the importance of the bird banding project run by the team at WildResearch, and the insights it provides to the habits of migratory birds throughout B.C.’s Lower Mainland.
- From Surrey, Community Bird Walks – Kris Cu, a Conservation Engagement & Outreach Worker at Birds Canada, leads a Filipino bird walk through Blackie Spit in Surrey, B.C. and speaks to how community birding events help increase diversity and representation in the birding community.
- From Parksville Qualicum Beach, Bald Eagle Rehabilitation – Just outside of Parksville Qualicum Beach is the small community of Errington, the home of the North Island Wildlife Recovery Association. In this Story from The BC Bird Trail, Animal Care Supervisor Derek Downes tells the story of NIWRA, and the important work they’re doing to rehabilitate young bald eagles impacted by the recent summer heat waves across Vancouver Island.
Through the BC Bird Trail, you can explore the many inspiring bird watching opportunities throughout the province, including those on the newly added Columbia Valley Bird Trail, between the Rocky and Purcell Mountains in southeast B.C. This newest trail joined three others in the province, the Central Vancouver Island Bird Trail, South Fraser Bird Trail and Fraser Valley Bird Trail.
READ MORE: 2 new trails await budding and seasoned birders
Operated in partnership with Destination British Columbia, Birds Canada, Indigenous Tourism BC, and various tourism partners throughout the province, The BC Bird Trail offers a network of original self-guided regional itineraries that highlights where to go, what to look for, restaurants and café’s to check out along the way, and where to stay. Learn more, or plan your own birding experience, at BCBirdTrail.ca.
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